Is there anything seriously wrong with my 2013 Level 2 Study Plan?

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blackomen

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What I did for Level 1:
On my first L1 attempt a few years ago, I mainly watched the Schweser videos and read the Schweser and CFAI texts. I did relatively few practice problems. Failed @ Band 9.
On my June 2012 attempt, I did the same except I allotted even more time to practice problems. I did ALL of the Schweser EOC’s (except challenge Q’s), ALL of the Schweser mocks, half of the Qbanks, and half of the CFAI EOCs. I started in February 2012 and spent a total of about 300 hours.
What I plan to do for Level 2:
I realize from others’ experiences here that I’d probably be dead in the water if I used the same tactic that worked for L1 in June 2012 for L2 in June 2013. (Please note I’m also considering taking an Actuarial exam in November so most of the hardcore studying won’t start until December.)
1) Watch all of the Schweser videos to get an overview of the L2 curriculum. (July to Sept)
2)Then read the CFAI texts front to back. After finishing each study session, do both the EOC Q’s and the Schweser Q’s. Take note of the weak sections. (Dec - Mar)
3) Use the Schweser Qbank to practice in the “weak” areas (Mar - May)
4) Do a practice exam (Schweser or CFAI) every weekend (Concurrent with #3).
Comments:
I found the videos to be ideal for getting an overview of the material initially (at least during L1 prep.) I’m also a bit hesitant to switch to another provider even if Schweser isn’t the best since I’m a little used to their style. I’ll try to mitigate their shortcomings by spending more time on the CFAI texts compared to what I did in L1 (and using Schweser as more of a supplemant instead of the main study material.)
 
I used shweser for level two and passed on second try. i think the key is to realise that the shweser mocks are more straightforward and easier. Basically shweser is a short cut. CFA text is king.
 
I think the plan requires a few tweeks!
Watching videos for 3 months and then opening the books after 3 months is not going to help. If thats not what you meant I am sorry to have misunderstood.
So for me 1 and 2 would be done together.. Do Only ITEMSET questions, I wasted a lot of time doing these stand alone questions and they are useless for level 2. There are lot of providers for itemset questions and you can take them including schweser.
I never did a practise exam in Level 1 as thats the way I studied from Childhood. But I had to take sample exams in Level 2 as I understood this is easily the most difficult exam I have written in my life :) So please try doing them mate, you would be fine.
Wishing you the very best!
 
For me (1st time pass), I almost exclusively used Kaplan, starting early January.
I went thru each chapter 3 times: 1) read over notes, 2) make flash cards of the notes, 3) watch the videos.
This really helped me grasp the concepts. I also did concept checkers and qbank questions per the schweser schedule.
Around 6 weeks before the exam, I spent a week diving into FRA and Equities in Curriculum, doing EOC questions and blue box examples.
The final five weeks were dedicated to practice tests and refreshing (secret sauce, etc). I also made sure I knew EVERY topic on the Schweser Quicksheet.
Took the test with 0 sleep, so wasn’t at my best, but still did enough for a 74% avg pass.
Hope this helps!
 
I passed levels 1&2 first attempt with only Schweser notes. And I was a communications major in undergrad, no finance.
Don’t waste your time with videos. It’s far to slow. Only use videos if there’is a difficult concept you can’t grasp through self study. Everyone I know who relied mostly on the videos as there main souce failed.
The study plan of a champion is as follows:
1. Start reading Schweser notes thoroughly at the beginning of Feb at the lastest. Do ALL concept checkers with the exception of the long case questions at the end. Those take too long. This should take you alittle over 2 months.
2. After your first time through immediate write half a practice exam. So either a morning session or an afternoon… dont do both yet. Mark the exam to see where your at and go over ALL exam questions. Not just the ones you got wrong…
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 but this time pay more attention to your weak areas. The second time around should take you about half the time as the first read through and should leave you with about 3 weeks left.
4. Practise exam and review. Practise exam and review. Practise exam and review …over and over and over …as many times as you can before D-day.
Do the above and you will pass.
.
 
Qbank is pretty worthless for level 2. I did love some of the Schweser Videos especially to get your brain wrapped around the more difficult concepts, but the CFA texts are the best. Do every EOC problem as well as the blue box ones in the reading. I didn’t do every problem and I did pass, but after I took it I wish I would have done more. I did do 4 Schweser Mocks and 3 or 4 CFA Mocks. The Schwesers aren’t as good as the CFA ones, but still worth doing early on (April or beginning of May).
 
TastyLaksa wrote:I used shweser for level two and passed on second try. i think the key is to realise that the shweser mocks are more straightforward and easier. Basically shweser is a short cut. CFA text is king.
Click to expand...
TastyLaksa wrote:CFA text is king.
Click to expand...
TastyLaksa wrote:CFA text is king.
Click to expand...
CFA text is king. if you do one thing, its this + the EOCs
 
blackomen, which acturarial exam are you going to write in November? MFE or MLC?
 
Yes, I am unsure how to start my exam studying as well! This thread really helps.
 
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